Alibaba's Qwen Models Cleared to Power Apple Intelligence in China

Regulatory Approval for Alibaba Models

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has granted regulatory approval for Alibaba's artificial intelligence models to power Apple Intelligence on the mainland, according to the South China Morning Post, which is owned by the Alibaba Group. The approved models include Tongyi Qianwen, the group of large language models better known as Qwen, as well as the Tongyi Wanxiang AI-generated image and video tool.

Apple had already received clearance to roll out Apple Intelligence on the Chinese mainland back in July, but the report says it has not yet done so. The updated filings include network access permits for the iPhone Duo and 18 Pro, with the former set to launch in China next week with the new and improved Siri AI as one of its flagship software features.

Two-Year Wait for Mainland Rollout

Apple Intelligence will seemingly now arrive in China almost exactly two years after it launched in the US, where Apple has worked with both Google and OpenAI to train its models and hand off complex questions. Much of Apple Intelligence's feature set is already available in Hong Kong, but the mainland's complex AI and privacy laws have required Apple to be patient about bringing what is now a core feature to one of its fastest-growing markets.

Reports that Apple would seek to work with Chinese AI firms for a workaround to bring Apple Intelligence to the country first emerged as far back as early 2025, with Alibaba named at the time. Back in the summer, it was confirmed that Qwen would be central to Apple Intelligence in compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro models that it sells to its Chinese customers.

Sources: Engadget